Monthly Archives: October 2008

roundup

Even more weekly roundup (hey, it was a big week)

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This is a terrific apologetics website (defending the Christian faith).  Check it out, especially the videos (this was probably just me, but I want to point out that you need to click on the “>” sign in the lower right hand corner to advance the slides).  It is on the blogroll as well. 

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If you are voting for Obama this is required reading.  I wish the lady in the video below would read it.  This information is available, yet because of the mainstream media bias we know much more about Sarah Palin’s private life than Barak Obama’s public or private lives.

Amazingly, the truth about Obama is so grisly and bizarre that his fans can’t believe it.  His views are so far removed from what decent human beings can tolerate that his followers reflexively deny them.  In a weird way, we’d be better off just telling part of truth.  They just can’t conceive of someone standing alone against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act or being so pro-partial-birth abortion.

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This is what Obama’s fans think he is going to do for them.  Think he might have cranked up the expectations a bit much?  Partial transcript:

I never thought this day would happen. . . . I won’t have to work on puttin’ gas in my car. I won’t have to work at payin’ my mortgage. You know. If I help him [Obama], he’s gonna help me.

Insanity.  Hat tip: Stop the ACLU

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More about the intolerance of “same sex marriage.”

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A plea to atheists – well reasoned answers from Dr. Michael Horton.  A sample:

Even the most skeptical of scholars acknowledge that Christ died on the cross under Roman authority, particularly since this is reported by non-Christian officials and historians at the time. Here is what early Jewish and Roman officials agreed on: (1) Jesus was crucified as a blasphemer under Jewish law and as a trouble-maker under Roman law; (2) Jesus died, confirmed by the strict procedures of Roman crucifixion; (3) he was placed in a tomb with Roman and Jewish guards posted (to guard against theft of his body by followers); (4) he was not in the tomb after three days and (5) a widespread commotion broke out in Jerusalem over his whereabouts. These can be pieced together by first-century statements from Romans rulers and historians such as Pliny the Younger, Trajan, and Tacitus and from rabbinical writings as well as the Jewish historian Josephus. From there, theories varied. Jewish leaders (Pharisees) argued that the body had somehow been stolen in spite of the double-regiment of Sanhedrin police and Roman soldiers. Romans, who saw the whole matter as a troublesome intra-Jewish affair, were so provoked by the empty tomb that they began rounding up anyone and everyone who claimed to have known Jesus. Disappearing bodies did not bode well for the deterrent force of Roman crucifixion.

As the apostles were brought before Roman authorities, they said nothing about how Jesus had helped them put their marriages back together or how they found it helpful and useful in daily living. Rather, they testified to datable events, which they assumed to have been well-known to their judges. If it had only promised good advice, spiritual and moral therapy, or pragmatic usefulness, Rome would have had no trouble adding another cult to the soup of imperial religion. However, the claim was that Jesus alone is Lord of the cosmos and Savior of the world (both titles that Caesar claimed for himself).

Of course, the early followers of Jesus believed that Jesus had been raised and had appeared to them for many days, explaining how his death and resurrection were promised throughout the Old Testament, and then ascended to the right hand of the Father in glory where he will remain until he returns to judge the living and the dead. The disciples, who, by their own accounts, had shown themselves to be cowards after Jesus’ arrest, were now willing martyrs for their testimony to the risen Christ and this Good News spread rapidly, just as Jesus promised, “from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

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Arnold on Obama.  Funny.

Corinthians 2

2 Corinthians 11

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2cor11.jpgGreetings! 

Paul and the False Apostles

11     I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

Skeptics try to criticize God for being “jealous” but they don’t realize that their is a good kind of jealousy.  God is our creator and has a right to be worshiped!

 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 5 But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

We need to use discernment and wisdom to determine if teachers are false or not.  Many false teachers have crept into churches and the leaders don’t kick them out or discipline them because the want to avoid conflict.

7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

It is sometimes hard to judge when the false teachers are so slick.  We have one in our church.  People let their guard down because he is a retired pastor, but he denies most essentials of the faith.  He won’t say Jesus is God.  He dismisses parts of the Bible he doesn’t like and even tought a class that parts were wrong (I went ballistic!).  He talks a lot about love and peace but his teaching is one-sided. 

Always test what these teachers say in light of scripture.

Paul Boasts About His Sufferings

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

[1][1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Paul recites an amazing list of what he endured for the Gospel – and this wasn’t even the end of his story!  It got worse for him.  It is humbling to consider how little I have had to give up, and it motivates me to give more while I can.  May we all be motivated to live, love, give and serve in ways that glorify God.

roundup

More weekly roundup

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Twenty reasons to vote yes on Proposition 8 in California and to preserve traditional marriage.  The main reason: Only traditional marriages have the possibility of providing one mother and one father to a child, which has always been the ideal.  Oxymoronic “same sex marriages” can never, never do that.

And for those who question such an obvious argument, ask them why the sex of one’s partner is non-negotiable and all important (i.e., a gay guy must have a guy for a partner – never a butch woman or a woman who thinks she’s a guy), but that the sex of one’s parents is completely irrelevant.  I’ve asked that countless times and have yet to have someone even try to answer.

Rick Warren is supporting Prop 8.  Good for him.

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More from Zo – another must watch.  He correctly skewers those who want to destroy the unborn with Down Syndrome or who are “unwanted.”  You call Bush a fascist yet Obama tries to destroy people like Joe the Plumber just for asking a question?  Too bad more leaders don’t call out sell-outs like this guy does.

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Obama vs. free speech – you’ve been warned

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Deregulation – the big lie

  • The current crisis was not caused by a deregulated “anything goes” market, but by liberal intervention in the market, i.e. forcing banks to make high-risk loans or face costly lawsuits.
  • Starting his first year in office, President Bush raised alarms about what was going on at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He made a serious attempt at reform in 2003 which was rebuffed by Democrats who were angry that “safety and soundness” was being raised as an issue.
  • Barney Frank promised that, even if they were to fail, the government would not bail our Fannie and Freddie.
  • Democrats continued to fight any attempt at regulation out of concern that it might dry up the flood of subprime mortgage money. (Hey, that was the idea, dummies!)
  • John McCain co-sponsored legislation on 2006 designed to provide additional regulation and oversight of Fannie and Freddie.
  • Obama has been a non-entity on this entire looming crisis, yet now claims he can fix it?
  • Deregulation wasn’t the problem. Democrats were the problem.
    • Politics

    Dirty tricks from team Obama – predictable, but sad

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    You’d think they’d be so embarrassed about the rampant ACORN frauds that they wouldn’t dare bring up the topic, but they have the audacity to bring back the 2004 game plan of making up voter intimidation accusations pre-emptively. 

    You read that correctly: The Left and the mainstream media (redundant, I know) gloss over real, live fraudulent activity yet will unashamedly act out their script full of lies once again. 

    Documents obtained by Townhall show the Democratic Party encouraged party activists to accuse the GOP of intimidating minorities on Election Day even if no evidence of intimidation existed in the 2004 presidential election. The tactic is being used again in 2008, this time to downplay fraud charges against a predominantly minority non-profit supporting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

    Carpenter describes nine pages of a former Kerry-Edwards handbook titled Minority Voter Intimidation. After instructions on how to recognize “intimidation,” the manual moves on to what to do if you don’t find any intimidation:

    Some of the suggested talking points included lines like “Nothing is more despicable than trying to deprive any American of the previous right to vote, the foundation of our democracy for which so many have sacrificed.”

    “If no signs of intimidation techniques have emerged yet, launch a ‘pre-emptive strike.” The manual said this should be done by placing stories in mainstream and specialty press “in which minority leadership expresses concern about the threat of intimidation tactics” and “prime minority leadership to discuss the issue in the media; provide talking points.””

    The Democrats’ preemptive strike has been delivered from Barack Obama’s legal team this time around.

    Watch and see how much the MSM covers this, or if they get serious about Obama’s fraud on credit card donations.

    Corinthians 2

    2 Corinthians 10

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    2cor10.jpgGreetings!  Paul’s ministry was under attack so he had to defend his credentials.  That is an awkward position to be in.  We don’t want to be proud, because all we have, including our faith, comes from God.  But there is a time to set the record straight on things.

    Paul’s Defense of His Ministry

    10     By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

    Strong words!  Christianity has gotten too wimpy in many places.  People are afraid to boldly declare that Jesus is the way.  They have no concept of church discipline, so all sorts of bad theology has crept into the church – so much so that the false teachings are considered to be the true teachings! 

    7 You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. 8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.

    It appears that Paul was not a particularly gifted speaker.  That may have been for the best, as he had to rely on the words of God to make his points.  So many churches and teachers get in trouble by thinking it is by their cleverness and speaking skills that people are converted.  God may use those, but it is God’s word that does the ultimate work.  He promised that his word would accomplish what He desired and achieve the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55), but He made no such promises about my words.

    12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man’s territory. 17 But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

    The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

    What do we concern ourselves with most – what we think of ourselves, what others think of us, or what Jesus thinks of us?

    Politics

    Obama is generous — with your money, not his

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    Which is, of course, another way of saying he isn’t generous at all.

    He is a true hypocrite.  He wants to take lots of your money for his pet liberal causes – you know, spread the wealth around – but donates a pittance himself.  Read the link and then see how Obama compares to the eeeeevil Dick Cheney when it comes to giving.

    Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle gave $10,772 of the $1.2 million they earned from 2000 through 2004 to charities, or less than 1 percent, according to tax returns for those years released today by his campaign.

    Less than 1%.  Less than 1%.  Can we remember that stat as the Left tries to deify the guy?

    Once again, folks, charity is when you give your own money, not when you force others at gunpoint to support your causes.

    P.S. Have I ever mentioned how radically pro-abortion he is?  How can you be for the little guy when you won’t defend the lives of the littles guys (and girls)?

    roundup

    Weekly roundup

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    Welcome to all the guests from ER’s blog.  Please read all you can.  Glad you wandered over to my “cult of one,” as he likes to call it.  Seems kinda petty and childish if you ask me, but I’m glad that he realizes his theology is radically different from mine (you know, mine being the Bible-believing kind and his being the make-up-your-own-Jesus kind).  That’s progress! 

    And while I know many people share my view that the original writings of the Bible were the inspired words of God, that they have been accurately transmitted to us and that faith in the real Jesus is the only way to salvation, I would still believe it even if no one else did.  I’m not worried about being popular with the world.

    Oh, and be sure to read the update on We told you so.  I really should stop reading posts that link to mine.  Not a good use of time.  All the little EONs (Enemies Of Neil) are such an obsessive lot.  Kinda creepy, but always amusing with their disdain for logic.   

    But I am encouraged that the EONs keep reading.  Who knows, maybe someday they’ll see the light.  So please keep the links coming, but don’t be offended if I don’t read your posts.

    Cheers!

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    Is the Bible historically accurate?  Yep.  Loads of evidence.  (Also added to the blog roll.  Hat tip: Velvet)

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    Commie tool Bill Ayers ambushed by reporter – and calls the police!  Seems kinda out of character for a unapologetic terrorist.

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    Spiked! (Stories the press is sitting on until after the election) – A partial list.  When Sean Hannity said that 2008 was the year the media died, I originally thought it was hyperbole.  I’m encouraged that in 2004 Bush still won, despite all the lies and the bias against him.  Hopefully McCain will pull it out as well.

    They spike stories that would hurt Obama and ignore the ones that would be good for McCain / Palin – such as the record crowds she draws and the reaction to her.  And how about the fact that the supposedly anti-women conservatives are going nuts over Palin, and that she’d be the first female VP?  This is big news, people, and it is virtually ignored.  Why the 18-to-1 negative coverage on Palin?  As much as I want to see this election season end, I wish she had more time to campaign. 

    Aside from the things they don’t cover, they repeat phrases like this without analysis:

    Obama says his plan to tax Americans making more than $250,000 would cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans.

    Of course, since nearly 50% of people pay no income taxes at all, how can he cut them?  Increasing welfare is not a tax cut.  It is . . . increasing welfare!

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    Obama’s campaign solicited and hid countless foreign contributions.  Where is the media?

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    Radical lefties working hard to bury anything that critiques the Messiah – even on Digg

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    Obama favors gun control.  And lies about it.

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    The intolerance of “same-sex marriage.”

    Corinthians 2

    2 Corinthians 9

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    2cor9.jpgGreetings!  Paul continues his message on giving here. 

    9     There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

    Paul is encouraging them to give generously.  It is a tricky balance to motivate people to give for the right reasons.  Too much pressure can turn the “giving” into an obligation. 

    The next passage sums it up nicely and verses 6-7 are good to commit to memory.  Giving generously is joyful and rewarding.  We are truly laying up treasures in Heaven as Jesus noted in Matthew 6.  I don’t know precisely how it works, but I know that if Jesus said it then it wasn’t just marketing spin.  And I know the joy in giving that we can experience right now. 

    As Randy Alcorn says, giving can be a blessing and a test.  God has given us so much in terms of financial resources and access to spiritual knowledge, whereas many people can live and die without the riches we have or even hearing the basic Gospel.  What are you doing with your financial and spiritual resources to advance the kingdom?

    Sowing Generously

    6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

    “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 

    10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

    12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

    The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

    Our generosity is evidence of our faith and a witness to others.  And the people we help do pray for us.  We have three World Vision sponsor children, and I am always humbled when I hear that they are praying for us.

    Politics

    Pro-Obama = anti-black

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    And pro-Mccain / Palin = pro-black.  Really.  Here’s why.

    I think McCain’s economic, defense, energy and other plans will ultimately be better for blacks, but even if they won’t the title is still true.

    There are two indisputable facts to consider:

    1. Abortions will increase under an Obama administration.  Obama clearly stated that his top priority as President would be to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act,” which would effectively eliminate every guideline, regulation, restriction, and limit on the multi-billion dollar abortion industry in the U.S. (see the video below).  He is on the record for being pro-partial birth abortion (he knows his “health” exception makes any restrictions meaningless) and wouldn’t even vote for the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (his attempts to spin that have been thoroughly debunked).  Judges he would appoint would be pro-choice, so the legacy could last for decades.  The evidence is overwhelming: He is radically pro-legalized abortion with no restrictions.
    2. Abortion rates in the black community are three times that of whites.

    In short, Obama is wildly pro-abortion and abortions are disproportionately high in black communities.

    Therefore, with Obama you will have many more black human beings crushed and dismembered in the womb and blacks will be a smaller and smaller percentage of society than they would have otherwise.  And that means less influence over politics and such.

    It is indisputable that Obama’s policies will result in many more dead black people.  I cannot see why people think his slightly different shade of melanin will more than make up for that.

    Pro-choicers may or may not be racist, but their policies are bad for black human beings.  The facts speak loudly and clearly. 

    • Pro-choice = anti-black
    • Pro-life = pro-black
    • Pro-McCain / Palin = pro-black
    • Pro-Obama = anti-black
    Corinthians 2

    2 Corinthians 8

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    2cor8.jpgGreetings! 

    Generosity Encouraged

    8     And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

    I like how he refers to the grace of giving.  It truly is a gift.  It was only after I became a believer that I really wanted to give and enjoyed giving. 

    But as much as I give, people like the Macedonians put me to shame.  We give from our abundance and they gave out of poverty, and they urgently pleaded for the privilege of sharing.  What a contrast and an inspiration. 

    It is indeed a privilege.  You will have all of eternity to remember how you handled the material resources God provided you.  If you are reading this you are probably one of the 2% of the richest people who ever walked the planet.  Think about that as you consider how to manage what God has entrusted to you.

    8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

    10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

    13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

    If you think that sounds a bit Communistic, keep in mind that this giving was voluntary.  Paul will explore that more in the next chapter. 

    Titus Sent to Corinth

    16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

    Accountability seems like a mundane issue, but a lack of it can undermine whole churches and ministries.  No one is above temptation, so we need solid controls over financial activities.  Transparency is always the best route to take.

    22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

    The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

    Christian worldview

    More weekly roundup

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    Great video on Proposition 8 in California and why it matters.  If oxymoronic “same sex marriage” is legal then lots more 5 yr. olds will be coming home with books designed to portray these relationships as normal and morally neutral.  This is a hugely important issue.  Those pushing this on your kids are disturbed.

    UPDATE: Here’s another example of what you’ll get lots more of if Prop 8 fails: School holds surprise ‘Gay’ Day for kindergartners

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    Abortion changes you – a good website for those needing hope and healing after an abortion

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    “If Americans can watch this video and still support Barack Obama, then America is…beyond all hope.” – Jason ‘Molotov’ Mitchell.

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    He just lies and lies – Obama knew the “kill him” rumors were false before he mentioned them on the debate, and the media gives him a pass on his easily identifiable lies about the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.

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    Mary worship still alive in Catholicism – and it still isn’t biblical.

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    Richard Dawkins – still evolving? 

    This week’s debate, however, was different because from the off Dawkins moved it onto safer territory– and at the very beginning made a most startling admission. He said:

    “A serious case could be made for a deistic God.”

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    Palin breaks with McCain on gay marriage amendment – when I first saw the title as an Internet news headline, I thought, “Wow, she is against it?  How disappointing!  But she is still strongly pro-life and that is a more important issue.”  Then I read the article and found that she is for a Constitutional Amendment (McCain is not), which I think is a great idea.  I like her even more now.  For years we were told that a Constitional Amendment was unnecessary, but it won’t be long until states are forced to recognize the oxymoronic same-sex marriages from places like Massachussetts and California.

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    Wealthier than you think – click here and find out how rich you are compared to the rest of the planet.  May our giving reflect our understanding that we are among the richest 1-2% of the people on the planet and the richest 0.5% who have ever lived.

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    Snopes.com – good for debunking email chains, bad for discerning political truths

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    Did you see how the media and the Democrats are up in arms over the scandals of Mark Foley’s replacement, the truly hypocritical Democrat who cheated on his wife and is accused of other ethics violations?  Yeah, me neither.  Foley’s problems came out just before the 2006 election and became a major issue.  Not so this time.

    Miscellaneous

    People with Blogger/Blogspot: I’m not ignoring you

    4 Comments

    For some reason on my new computer I can’t comment on any Blogger/Blogspot sites.  I can read the blogs, but when I try to comment or even go to blogger.com I get the following error.  I tried Firefox and got the same error.  All my other links work fine.  Any ideas?  This has been going on for days.

     

     

    Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage
     
     

    Most likely causes:

    • You are not connected to the Internet.
    • The website is encountering problems.
    • There might be a typing error in the address.
    Corinthians 2

    2 Corinthians 7

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    2cor7.jpgGreetings! 

    7     Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

    How do we purify ourselves?  By adding cleansing agents such as the Holy Spirit, and by removing bad things.  We can do practical things to avoid sin and temptation.  People who battle jealousy or resentment can pray for those whose things they covet or who have hurt them.  Those who battle lust can avoid viewing certain things.  Those who battle greed can give away more. 

    Paul’s Joy

    2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4 I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

    As hard as Paul is on the Corinthians, he reminds them of his love.  That can be hard to do when one must criticize others.  It is easy to make them into enemies. 

    5 For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

    Even Paul was hindered by fears, but he was comforted by God’s providence. 

    8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

    Godly sorrow is authentic and brings about change and salvation.  Worldly sorrow is insincere and is really just sorrow over getting caught or having consequences.

     11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

    Are we indignant and alarmed over our sins?  Do we long to see them stopped?

    In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

    The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

    Politics

    Barack Obama: Pro-partial birth abortion, among other things

    16 Comments

    This has been one of my most popular pieces picked up in search engines, so I thought I’d refresh it.

    Have you voted?  I voted yesterday, for McCain / Palin.   This election matters a lot.  Yes, God is in control, and He can make good come out of bad, but we should never avoid doing all the good that we can.  And voting for McCain is a far superior moral position than voting for Obama. 

    It is not over!  If just 6-8% of the people claiming to support Obama are in the category of “I’m not racist, but I don’t like to be called racist” (i.e., the “Bradley effect”), then McCain can win.  And that assumes no ground is made up otherwise and that the young people actually turn out to vote for Obama.

    P.S. The voting was crowded, so the volunteers asked me to tell all the Obama supporters that their voting day was getting moved to Nov. 11.  Just kidding!  Probably!

    ———-

    Also see The scariest part about Obama

    McCain is significantly better than Obama in every key area:

    • Pro-life – McCain has a track record of supporting good judges, while Obama is one of the the most extreme pro-abortion advocates I’ve heard of (and that is not an exaggeration – just keep reading).  Consider his bizarre standards for judges: Instead of picking people who can interpret the law honestly, he wants this: “We need somebody who’s got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it’s like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it’s like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old. And that’s the criteria by which I’m going to be selecting my judges.”
    • McCain has much better fiscal policies.  Obama wants to take your money to give to his pet projects, but donates a pittance himself.  Giving other people’s money at the point of a gun is not charity.  “Spreading the wealth around” is socialism, and it doesn’t work.
    • We’ll be far, far safer with McCain.  Obama is relatively clueless about foreign affairs, would have us surrender in Iraq and set the Middle East progress back 50 years, and is so naive as to think we could or should eliminate nuclear weapons.
    • His energy policies will keep the cost of fuel up for decades.  McCain knows we need to drill now and get nuclear plants started asap.  This will provide jobs, reduce greenhouse emissions and reduce energy costs for us all.
    • Obama is anti-free speech.  Watch how they try to annihilate anyone who dares to even question him, such as Joe the Plumber.  He and the Democrats will want to impose the deceptively named Fairness Doctrine, so they can try to silence conservative radio while leaving the grossly biased mainstream media untouched.
    • “McCain pays his female staffers more, on the average, than his male staffers; Obama, however, pays women $0.83 for every dollar earned by men.”
    • Obama is not about change at all.  He is about the same old liberal politics.  McCain is the poster boy for real change – whether you agree with the change or not – and for reaching across the aisle. 
    • Obama lies when saying he’ll reduce taxes for 95% of the people.  Nearly half don’t pay taxes, so it is impossible to lower theirs.  He is just talking about more welfare.
    • He will be pro-gay marriage.  Just wait.

    Barack Obama, hero and “savior” of the left, isn’t just pro-abortion, he’s pro-partial birth abortion.   80% of the population disagrees with this stance, so be sure to tell others.  Just Google “obama partial birth abortion letter” or something similar if you want more sources. He is against informed consent and parental notification.  In his world, your junior high daughter needs your permission to take an aspirin but not to have an abortion.

    He reveals his deceptiveness and/or ignorance with his latest ads trying to say that McCain will make abortion illegal. But overturning Roe doesn’t make abortion illegal. It returns the power to the states – to the people – and lets them decide. California, Massachusetts, NY, etc. can keep killing the unborn all they like.

    He also defended the rights of hospitals in Illinois to let children die outside the womb by repeatedly opposing the Born Alive Infant Protection Act against infanticide and he is against parental notification laws.

    He lies over and over on his views.  He is as radically pro-abortion as one can be.  Read this thorough analysisby Randy Alcorn to see what I mean.

    In his July 17, 2007 speech to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund he said,

    “We know that a woman’s right to make a decision about how many children she wants to have and when— without government interference—is one of the most fundamental freedoms we have in this country. . . . I have worked on this issue for decades now. I put Roe at the center of my lesson plan on reproductive freedom when I taught constitutional law. . . So, you know where I stand. . . The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing that I’d do.”

    If you don’t know about the Freedom of Choice Act, it was written by the most radical proabortion activists because they saw informed consent and parental consent laws being passed at the state level. They wanted something powerful that would dismantle anything that could serve to reduce abortions through requiring that people be told the truth before an abortion or before their sixteen year old, who can’t be given an aspirin without their permission, can have an abortion.

    Here’s a piece on the audacity of being an abortion survivor.  Remember, Obama doesn’t just see the right of unrestricted abortions in the Constitution, he sees the right to a corpse. If the abortion fails, then that shouldn’t be a barrier to a dead human.

    Obama is lying about others lying– will the MSM check the facts and let voters know his real stand on abortion, partial birth abortion (aka infanticide) and his opposition to the Born Alive Infants Protection Act?

    Obama wants change . . . except when it comes to abortion as birth control, inside the womb or outside it.

    Obama wants you . . .

    • to pay for abortion!
    • to sanction the killing of infants born alive!
    • to believe that pregnancy is a “punishment”!
    • to accept partial birth abortion!
    • to forget his close association with radical abortion groups like NARAL and PP!
    • to endorse liberal activist Supreme Court Judges that support abortion in the 9th month!
    • to embrace a culture of death!

    Listen to his own words, plus his silly comment about the question of when life begins being above his pay grade:

    He couldn’t be more clear about his plans:

    See The Infanticide Shibboleth for more.  Simply put, Obama is super-duper pro-abortion, and pro-infanticide as well.

    He doesn’t even hide his hostility towards preborn human beings.  Consider this quote (emphasis added):

    “Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

    News flash: Sex has consequences – emotional, physical and spiritual.  Destroying – and I do mean destroying – the evidence doesn’t take the consequences away.   

    Despite being portrayed as a moderate, he is also against traditional marriage, including the Defense of Marriage Act. 

    He has bad theology, thinking that other religions will get you to Heaven (of course, our current President is guilty of saying this nonsense as well). 

    More hypocrisy: He wants to take lots of your money for his pet liberal causes, but donates a pittance himself.  Once again, folks, charity is when you give your own money, not when you force others at gunpoint to support your causes.

    I can’t believe he threw his grandmother under the bus.  If anyone uttered “typical black person,” their political career would be over.  Yet he gets a pass for saying, “typical white person.”

    Updates: Click here for a long list of reasons why he would make a bad President.

    roundup

    Weekly roundup

    8 Comments

    Tragic persecution of Christians continues in India by Hindus (aren’t they supposed to be peaceful?).  They are not letting much news out so updates are spotty. 

    Real Christians should pray for them and continue to support organizatons such as Voice of the Martyrs.

    Pluralistic Christians (those who teach that all paths lead to God, which is the opposite of what the Bible teaches) should send reverse missionaries to these countries.  After all, if their views are true then the loving thing would be to tell everyone to avoid hardship and just worship the local god(s), right? 

    —

    An inspiring true story of Haralan Popov, a Bulgarian Christian minister severely persecuted by the Communists for 13 years. 

    —

    Quote of the week:

    The best health care, the best economy, the best social justice system means nothing to the millions of Americans that never made it out of the womb or never will.

    Rebecca Taylor

     Hat tip: Pro-Life Blogs

    —

    So Obama wants to give $4,000 per year to college students.  Guess how much college tuition will increase when he does that?  I’d bet on $4,000 per year.  Colleges will be fatter and less efficient, we’ll pay higher taxes and/or the debt will increase, and kids will have the same costs and debt.  Write it down.

    I taught Junior Achievement classes for various grades for 12 years.  I was always impressed at how quickly Junior High kids could not only pick up on concepts like supply and demand, but even the elasticity of supply and demand (i.e., demand for needs such as insulin will not be as influenced by price as wants like entertainment).

    Too bad Obama doesn’t even get the basic part right.  Just spreadin’ the wealth around, right Comrade?

    —

    Sarah Palin, the real deal.  Regardless of the outcome of the election, I love how she has put a face on families with special needs children and why it is better to let them live than to destroy them in the womb.

    —

    “As the media fumes over nonexistent hate at Palin speeches, it ignores leftists who go berserk on city streets.  Will the media run with a story of [a white male] Obama supporter who went berserk at the sight of McCain signs and repeatedly struck a woman volunteer on the head with a stick?”

    —

    More media bias: Even Dan Rather admits the media would have jumped all over Palin if she had said what Biden did about a crisis being generated if her running mate were to be elected. 

    Also, have you noticed how Biden hasn’t had press conferences for a long time?  Think they’re hiding him?  Why no outrage from the press over that?